I CAN PLAY QUIDDITCH

Chapter 5

"So, how was your summer?" Hermione asked, trying to make some light conversation.

"Oh, it was normal. I had to go to muggle school and it was... ok. It seemed kind of dull compared to the magic we learn at Hogwarts."

"You go to a muggle school? That is so cool. I would love to go to a muggle school but I decided against it. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to keep up with all the magic."

"You? Not being able to keep up? You're the greatest and smartest witch since the founders!"

"Oh, stop it. I'm not really, I just study and remember more things than everyone else. Really, it's nothing." Hermione replied humbly, she smiled and turned a light shade of pink.

"It's nothing? I'd kill to be as smart as you are! You're a great role model to younger students like myself."

"Oh, that's a great compliment." Hermione said smiling wider than before. "Oh, looks like we're here. You can go in first."

"Thanks." Lia said smiling back at Hermione. She walked into the bathroom and quickly changed into her uniform. She fixed her skirt so that it was decent for the feast and tied her tie on loosely. She made sure her wand was in a perfect spot to quickly whip out if needed and then draped her robe over the top. She quickly fixed up her hair and walked out, but the sight she walked in on was hardly pleasant.

Draco Malfoy was there with his two bodyguards, Crabbe and Goyle. He was talking to Hermione in a low but menacing tone and glaring at her. Hermione was glaring back, her eyes were sparking and her hand was twitching towards her wand.

"Hey! What are you doing? Why are you hanging around the girls bathroom, Malfoy? Are you a pervert or is there something you need to tell us?" Lia shouted at Malfoy. She glared at Malfoy as his head snapped towards her. His eyes were glaring daggers at her but his mouth was turned up into a smirk.

"Oh nothing Diamond. Just have a nice... 'chat' with my favourite mudblood." Malfoy said calmly but with a hostile tone.

"Don't call her that, you evil jerk! Her blood is worth a hundred times more than yours!" Lia shouted back at him.

Malfoy had lost his smirk and was now advancing towards Lia, completely forgetting Hermione. "Don't ever call me that, you have no right to speak to me in that way." He snarled.

As quick as a wink, Lia had her wand out and it was now against Malfoy's throat. "Just get out of here Malfoy or I'll hex you into oblivion." She threatened. By then, a small crowd had formed and were watching the showdown between herself and Malfoy.

He glared at her as she glared back, neither one backing down from their staring contest. He then turned his head and growled, "we'll meet again and this time you won't be as lucky." He then turned and stalked off, his two bodyguards cracked their knuckles, gave a grunt and followed him. Everyone else quickly turned and walked back into their compartments.

Lia then calmly put her wand back into her pocket and turned to Hermione. "Are you alright?" Lia asked softly.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little shocked, is all. He always does this, but this time his words were harsher. But I'm fine, you don't have to worry." Hermione tried giving a strained smile.

"Well, if you want to talk about it, you can always come to me. You should probably get changed now though. I think the train will reach Hogwarts soon."

"Oh yes, good idea. Um, thanks for sticking up for me, by the way. You're a good friend." Hermione gave a genuine smile and walked into the bathroom. While Hermione was gone, Lia thought about the fight before. "Hmm, why did I get so angry at him? I suppose I think of Hermione as a good friend now even though I've only known her for an hour tops." Lia thought to herself, "I wonder what Malfoy is going to do... He probably will go through with that threat. He is a fifth year Slytherin. Oh, what was I thinking? He's gonna kill me! Well, I just have to be on my guard then." At this point, Hermione came back out of the bathroom looking fresher and a great deal happier than before.

"Ready to go back to the compartment?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, I am. Did you remember everything? Don't want to leave anything in the bathroom."

"Yeah, I think i've got everything. Let's head back."

"Okay." Lia and Hermione began their way back to Harry and Ron's compartment. Several heads turned their way and openly stared at them. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"The least they could do was look away. Do they really have nothing better to do than to listen in on our conversation?" Hermione said a little angrily.

"Well, I guess I was shouting a little loudly... But he was just so annoying. He teased my friend and was completely mean even though she had never done anything. And my other friend actually likes him! They're in the same house but still, it's Draco Malfoy. Disgusting!" Lia ranted.

"I know!" Hermione gave a sigh. "Maybe we should stop worrying about him for a while. We've gotten it out of our system and we can be calm and mature young women about this." She said the last sentence with a pompous air and held it for about 3 seconds before she burst out laughing. "Yeah, so I can't be a calm, mature young woman. Oh well!" They both laughed their way back to the compartment. Lots more people were looking at them as they laughed their way back.

When they got back to the compartment, they were breathless from laughing. "What's got you so happy then?" Ron demanded once they got back.

"Oh, nothing. We're mature young women, we don't laugh. We... titter." Hermione and Lia looked at each for a second and burst out laughing again.

"Yeah, we can see you 'tittering'." Harry said amused at his best friend who was usually so calm and collected. Maybe Lia had loosened her up a little. Harry looked at Lia with admiration in his eyes. She had become friends with one of his best friends in an hour and they already had their own inside joke. And she looks pretty when she laughs. Her hair was swinging and catching the light, her eyes were sparkling and her cheeks were dusted with a light pink colour. Lia noticed Harry staring and slowly got her breath back.

"Well, I should probably get going then. My friends are probably wondering where I am. I'll see you at the feast?" Lia asked, looking at them all.

"Yeah, we'll see you there." Harry replied with a grin.

"Well, bye then. It was nice meeting you both." Lia gave a smile and a wave to Hermione and Ron. She then turned around and walked back to her own compartment. Harry watched her intently until she rounded a corner and was out of sight.

Harry looked back at his friends and noticed the two sharing a look and then looking back at him. They looked at each other again and then back to Harry.

"What?" Harry asked. "Is there something on my face?"

"No, no, nothing on your face." Ron sniggered.

"Then what is it?" Harry asked curiously.

"Nothing, nothing at all." Ron was still sniggering. Hermione looked at him and rolled her eyes. Harry could hear her say very softly to herself, "obvious, much?" Hermione then looked at Harry with a very serious expression on her face.

"So, when are you going to ask her out?" Hermione questioned Harry with one eyebrow raised.